Iranian Naval Fleet Enters Atlantic Ocean

Iranian warships have been dispatched to the Atlantic Ocean and will travel close to the United States’ maritime border for the first time, Rear Admiral Afshin Rezaei Haddad, who commands the fleet, said on Saturday.

ISNA quoted the commander as saying that the vessels have already entered the Atlantic Ocean off the southern coast of South Africa.

“For the first time, Iran’s Northern Naval Fleet is moving towards the US maritime border,” he added.

Late in January, Iranian Navy’s 29th fleet of warships departed for the Atlantic Ocean in a bid to protect the country's cargo ships and oil tankers in the high seas.

The 29th fleet of warships which is planned to serve intelligence, combat and training purposes, set sail from the country’s southern port of Bandar Abbas for the Atlantic Ocean.

The fleet is comprised of Kharg logistic warship –capable of carrying helicopters—and Sabalan destroyer, and is scheduled to travel some 25,000 nautical kilometers on its journey towards the Atlantic Ocean within the next three months.

In a ceremony to deploy the fleet, Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari explained that the 29th fleet is expected to provide security for the Iranian vessels in the shipping lines of the high seas, and added that navy cadets will also receive necessary training in the voyage.

In recent years, Iran’s naval forces have increased their presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for trade vessels and oil tankers.